Grand Blue Mile & USA Road Championships

Grand Blue Mile & USA Road Championships

Sat, April 17 to Friday, April 30,

Des Moines, IA & worldwide

The Virtual Grand Blue Mile presented by Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield will take place from Saturday, April 17 to Friday, April 30, 2021.

The 2021 USA 1 Mile Road Championship will be contested on Wednesday, April 21 in conjunction with the 111th Drake Relays presented by Xtream powered by Mediacom. The USA Championship prize purse available totals $15,000 and goes 10 deep ($3000, $1500, $750, $600, $500, $400, $300, $200, $150 and $100). Like last year, the pro athletes will race on a point-to-point course, starting on Drake's Painted Street and finishing on Jim Duncan Track inside Drake Stadium. Entrant lists HERE.

The Grand Blue Mile is the Midwest’s premier community street run for all ages and abilities, and with 7 heats and 3,000-plus finishers, the event is the third largest timed, competitive U.S. road Mile. Held annually in Des Moines, Iowa, since 2010, the Grand Blue Mile has hosted more than 40,000 participants from 38 states, 7 countries and 5 continents. Among those participants: Olympic medalists, American record holders, national champions and many of the world’s finest track & field athletes.

The Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield and Drake Relays partnership event has also been recognized as one of America’s top Mile races by Shape Magazine and featured across track & field media. The long U-shaped road course, run in downtown Des Moines, is USATF-certified.

For the fourth straight year and thru 2023, the Grand Blue Mile will host the prestigious USA 1 Mile Road Championships after previously hosting the national championships in 2013-14.

EVENT / COURSE RECORDS
3:59.96 Clayton Murphy (OH), 2017
4:29.7 Nikki Hiltz (CA), 2019

2021 USA Road Champions
Eric Avila (CA), 3:59.0, first national title
Rachel Schneider (AZ), 4:30.3, first national title

Elite athlete contact, Blake Boldon, Drake Relays Director: blake.boldon@drake.edu

Event Website




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News

Avila, Schneider Capture USATF 1 Mile Road Championship Crowns

April 21, 2021

First time national titlists pocket $3000 each in Des Moines; $15,000 overall awarded to the top 10

From Drake Relays

DES MOINES, Iowa — In exciting races, rising stars Eric Avila and Rachel Schneider captured the USATF 1 Mile Road Championships presented by Toyota Wednesday night on the...

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Engels, Kampf, Murphy Headline Fields at USATF 1 Mile Road Championships

April 20, 2021

The USA Championship prize purse totals $15,000 and goes 10 deep with $3000 to each national champion

From USATF

DES MOINES, Iowa – USATF champions, World Championship qualifiers and an Olympic medalist headline Wednesday’s fields at the USATF 1 Mile Road Championships presented by Toyota...

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Q&A with Blake Boldon

April 09, 2021

This year, our ability to successfully execute the Drake Relays, the USATF 1 Mile Road Championships again and also the Virtual Grand Blue Mile with a standing LOC ready to host is deeply embedded in our culture.

By Bring Back the Mile

We recently had a chat with Blake Boldon, Franklin P....

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Drake Relays, Grand Blue Mile to Host USATF 1 Mile Road Championships

March 23, 2021

Prakel, Lipari to defend titles in Des Moines on Wednesday, April 21; $15,000 prize purse available

From Drake Relays

Once again, Des Moines will host the USA Track & Field (USATF) 1 Mile Road Championships presented by Toyota, with some of the world's most elite runners competing for a...

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Registration for the 2021 Virtual Grand Blue Mile now open

February 26, 2021

Complete Your Race - Your Pace - Your Place between April 17 and 25, 2021; an entry fee of just $10 includes bib and GBM event shirt

From Grand Blue Mile

Registration has opened for the 2021 Grand Blue Mile presented by Wellmark® Blue Cross® and Blue Shield®. Officials from Wellmark and the...

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Prakel, Lipari win USA 1 Mile Road titles

August 29, 2020

Three men go sub-4; Lipari sets national championship record

Report from USATF

DES MOINES, Iowa – At a rare 2020 USA Championship, thanks to the Drake Blue Oval Showcase presented by Mediacom, Sam Prakel and Emily Lipari won USATF 1 Mile Road Championship crowns, clocking 3 minutes, 58.3...

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Past champions, rising stars headline USA Mile Road Championship

August 21, 2020

Drake Blue Oval Showcase presented by Mediacom hosts title tilt with stadium finish; $10,000 prize purse

From Drake Relays

Despite a four-month postponement, Des Moines will reprise its role as the host of the USA Track & Field 1 Mile Road Championship when the nation's best Milers compete...

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Grand Blue Mile awarded USATF 1 Mile Road Championships from 2020-23

February 20, 2020

Past national champions Hurt, Masters, Lipari & Kampf commit to 2020 race on Tuesday evening, April 21; $30,000 prize purse available

From Grand Blue Mile

DES MOINES, Iowa - Grand Blue Mile officials from Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield and Drake Relays have announced the USA Track &...

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The Best Mile Moments of 2019

December 20, 2019

Longstanding indoor and outdoor Mile world records broken; Herrera & Kampf BBTM Grand Prix Tour champions and more BBTM Effect!

By Ryan Lamppa, Bring Back the Mile

The Bring Back the Mile campaign was launched in January 2012 to elevate & celebrate the storied distance, and over the past 8...

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Bring Back the Mile announces Tour 2019 Best Moments winners

October 16, 2019

Four Mile maniacs also win Tour presenting sponsor Running Warehouse $50 gift cards and BBTM swag

Bring Back the Mile, the campaign to elevate & celebrate the iconic distance, has announced the BBTM Grand Prix Tour 2019 two "Best Moments" winners per gender. Click on the athlete name below for...

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Herrera Defends, Kampf Recaptures BBTM Grand Prix Tour Titles

October 06, 2019

6th edition presented by Running Warehouse featured 5 stops awarding more than $110,000 plus a $10,000 GP purse

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – At the BBTM Grand Prix Tour 2019 finale, The Navy Mile, on a cloudy Sunday morning in Washington, DC, Daniel Herrera, 26, from New Orleans, LA, won the men’s...

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Hurt, Hiltz Kick to Victory at USATF 1 Mile Road Championships

April 23, 2019

At Grand Blue Mile, event and championship record for Hiltz, men's photo finish; $27,500 prize purse awarded; also first stop on BBTM Grand Prix Tour presented by Running Warehouse

Contributed by Scott Bush, USATF, and Drake Athletic Communications

DES MOINES, Iowa – Deep fields led to...

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Making the Most of Your Mile: Grand Blue Mile 10th Anniversary

April 21, 2019

Event again hosts USA 1 Mile Road Championships as well as BBTM Grand Prix Tour opener; Drake Relays event director Blake Boldon discusses its 10th anniversary, marketing innovations, elite fields, his pups and more!

By Bring Back the Mile

The USATF 1 Mile Road Championships return to...

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Masters, Lipari Ready to Defend USA Titles at Grand Blue Mile

April 12, 2019

10th edition, first stop on the BBTM Grand Prix Tour 2019, offers $25,000 Open purse with $5000 for each national champion

Grand Blue Mile race officials have announced preliminary fields for the 2019 USATF 1 Mile Road Championships set for Tuesday, April 23, in downtown Des Moines. A world...

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Grand Blue Mile Opens BBTM Grand Prix Tour 2019

March 26, 2019

6th Tour edition presented by Running Warehouse showcases 5 leading U.S. Mile races and top Mile athletes; total Tour prize purse exceeds $110,000

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Bring Back the Mile, the national campaign to elevate & celebrate the iconic distance, has announced the 6th edition of its...

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National Road Championships return to Grand Blue Mile

March 24, 2019

Defending champions Riley Masters, Emily Lipari headline 10th event edition in Des Moines; $30,000 overall prize purse to be awarded

Grand Blue Mile (GBM) officials from Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield and Drake Relays announced the national Mile road championships will be returning in 2019...

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The Best Mile Moments of 2018

December 20, 2018

Record annual prize money awarded exceeds $650,000; Herrera & Lipari BBTM Grand Prix Tour champions, greatest women’s Mile ever, BBTM Effect continues and more!

By Ryan Lamppa, Bring Back the Mile

Bring Back the Mile, since its first year in 2012, has compiled an annual highlight summary of...

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Herrera Wins, Lipari Defends Bring Back the Mile Grand Prix Tour

September 30, 2018

Grand prix tour with 6 stops awarded more than $125,000 plus $10,000 #Tour2018 GP purse; Eric Avila & Shannon Osika earn Tour Performance-of-the-Year bonus; fifth edition also featured Running Warehouse’s “Pick-the-Winner” online contest at every stop

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – (September 30,...

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Ed Murphey Memphis Mile Joins Bring Back the Mile Grand Prix Tour 2018

July 16, 2018

5th Tour edition features 6 stops offering a guaranteed Tour prize purse of $135,000; Running Warehouse’s fan engagement online contest at each Tour event

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Bring Back the Mile, the national campaign to elevate & celebrate the iconic distance, has announced that the Ed...

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Masters, Lipari Win First USA Titles at Grand Blue Mile

April 24, 2018

9th event edition awards $25,000 national championship purse; first stop on the BBTM Grand Prix #Tour2018

From Drake Relays

DES MOINES, Iowa – In down-to-the-wire exciting finishes, Riley Masters and Emily Lipari bested their respective fields to win the 9th Grand Blue Mile, the USATF 1 Mile...

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Making the Most of Your Mile: 2018 Grand Blue Mile

April 18, 2018

Event again hosts USA 1 Mile Road Championships as well as BBTM Grand Prix #Tour2018 opener; Drake Relays event director Blake Boldon discusses 2018 fields, shares what's new for this year and more!

By Bring Back the Mile

The USATF 1 Mile Road Championship returns to Des Moines for the second...

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Top Fields Set for 2018 USATF 1 Mile Road Championships at Grand Blue Mile

April 12, 2018

Katie Mackey to defend women’s national title; $25,000 guaranteed national championship purse with $5000 for each national champion; also the Bring Back the Mile Grand Prix #Tour2018 season opener

From Grand Blue Mile

DES MOINES, Iowa - Grand Blue Mile race officials have announced the fields...

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Bring Back the Mile Grand Prix Tour Announces 2018 Schedule

February 13, 2018

5th Tour edition with 5 stops offers total Tour prize purse of more than $110,000; Grand Blue Mile opens 2018 racing season on Tuesday, April 24 in Des Moines; Running Warehouse’s fan engagement online contest again tied to each Tour event

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Bring Back the Mile, the...

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The Best Mile Moments of 2017

December 21, 2017

Record prize money awarded exceeds $500,000, Blankenship & Lipari win BBTM Grand Prix Tour titles, one more U.S. HSer sub-4, the brothers Ingebrigtsen make history, greatest women’s Mile ever and more highlight year

By Ryan Lamppa, Bring Back the Mile

Since the Bring Back the Mile launch in...

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Blankenship, Lipari Win Bring Back the Mile Grand Prix Tour 2017 Titles

October 01, 2017

Grand prix tour with 5 stops awarded more than $100,000 plus $10,000 #Tour2017 GP purse; Clayton Murphy & Emily Lipari earn Tour Performance-of-the-Year bonus; Running Warehouse’s “Pick-the-Winner” online contest at every stop for fourth edition

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – At the Bring Back the...

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Murphy, Mackey Win USA Titles at Grand Blue Mile

April 25, 2017

2016 Olympic medalist Clayton Murphy also crushes course record with sub-4, earns $2500 bonus; first stop on the Bring Back the Mile Grand Prix #Tour2017

By Scott Bush for USATF

DES MOINES - Close finishes defined the USATF 1 Mile Road Championships Tuesday evening in Des Moines, Iowa, as...

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Making the Most of Your Mile: Grand Blue Mile

April 21, 2017

USA 1 Mile Road Championships returns to Des Moines, IA under the leadership of new Franklin P. Johnson Drake Relays Director Blake Boldon; $30,000 overall prize purse welcomes the country’s best Milers to the BBTM Grand Prix #Tour2017 opener

By Bring Back the Mile

One of only four sub-4...

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USATF 1 Mile Road Championship Fields Announced for Grand Blue Mile

April 19, 2017

Event also kicks off the Bring Back the Mile Grand Prix Tour 2017 in Des Moines; $25,000 national championship purse with $5000 for each national champion

DES MOINES - Grand Blue Mile race officials have announced the elite fields for the 2017 USA 1 Mile Road Championships set for Tuesday,...

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Bring Back the Mile Grand Prix Tour 2017 Events Announced

February 16, 2017

4th Tour edition includes 5 stops; total Tour prize purse exceeds $110,000; Grand Blue Mile opens 2017 season on Tuesday, April 25 in Des Moines; Running Warehouse’s fan engagement contest also tied to each Tour event

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Bring Back the Mile, the national campaign to elevate...

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USA Road Championships Return to Grand Blue Mile

February 06, 2017

Annual April event, part of historic Drake Relays, offers $25,000 national championship prize purse with $5000 for USA champion

From Drake Relays

DES MOINES, Iowa – Grand Blue Mile (GBM) officials from Wellmark and the Drake Relays presented by Hy-Vee announced the USA Track & Field 1 Mile...

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Kampf Threepeats as Grand Blue Mile Champion

April 27, 2016

Noelle wins men's race; pair lead more than 3,500 runners through downtown course

From Drake Relays

DES MOINES, Iowa – Heather Kampf successfully defended her Grand Blue Mile title for the second straight year on Tuesday evening, winning the women's Mile invitational race in 4 minutes, 37.52...

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Grand Blue Mile Defending Champions Set to Return

April 26, 2016

Top American middle-distance runners on display in Des Moines for $30,000 prize purse with $5000 for each race champion

From Drake Relays

Grand Blue Mile race officials announced a prestigious field of invitational championship participants in addition to the expected 3,500 recreational and...

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Centrowitz Wins Over Manzano, Kampf Repeats at Grand Blue Mile

April 22, 2015

Matthew Centrowitz and Heather Kampf picked up $5000 for their road Mile wins, event record 5,000 participants at 6th edition event.

By LetsRun.com

DES MOINES, Iowa - (April 21, 2015) - The Drake Relays kicked off in grand style with the Grand Blue Mile Tuesday night in Des Moines. Matthew...

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Grand Blue Mile Features ‘Dream’ Field of Running Royalty

April 06, 2015

Defending champions Manzano, Kampf to face formidable field including Lagat, Centrowitz, Leer, McNamara, Grunewald, Sifuentes and more; $30,000 overall prize purse for 6th edition

By Drake Athletics

Grand Blue Mile race officials today unveiled a prestigious field of invitational championship...

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Grand Blue Mile Tapped to Host 2013-14 USA Men’s & Women’s 1 Mile Road Championships

March 25, 2013

By Katie Branham, USATF

INDIANAPOLIS – Grand Blue Mile (GBM) and USA Track & Field (USATF) officials today announced a two-year agreement that will bring the USA Men’s & Women’s 1 Mile Road Championships to Des Moines, Iowa, in 2013 and 2014 as part of the USA Running Circuit. The championships...

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Sara Hall Claims Second Consecutive Grand Blue Mile

April 24, 2012

Peter van der Westhuizen takes first GBM crown

Courtesy: Drake Athletics

DES MOINES, Iowa - 2011 Pan Am Games gold medalist Sara Hall (far right) became the first two-time winner in the three-year history of the Grand Blue Mile on Tuesday evening, outkicking Heather Kampf to repeat as...

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